Loading funnel system

ABSTRACT

A loading funnel for ammunition cases includes a variety of interchangeable adapter tubes, each adapted to a particular size of cartridge. The cooperative configurations of the funnel and adapters prevent choking or bridging of the powder and promote free flow directly into the cartridge.

United States Patent Minneman Apr. 30, 1974 [541 LOADING FUNNEL SYSTEM75,065 3/1868 Slade 141/331 559,905 5/1896 Pike..... 141/331 X [75]lnvemor- 'l M'nneman Clayton 928,138 7/1909 Lewis 141/331 x Ohio1,899,095 2/1933 Knight et al. 86/31 2,791,148 5/1957 Maisch 86/31 [73]Asslgnee yggfg ducts CmnPany 3,161,104 12 1964 Kalvy 86/24 x Filedi y18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. 21 A I. N J 254 534Assistant Examiner-Charles Gorenstein 1 pp 0 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Biebel, French & Bugg [52] US. Cl 141/332, 86/20 A, 141/367 ABSTRA51 1m. (:1 B65b 39/00 [57] [58] Field of Search 141/331, 332, 367, 339;A loadmg funnel for ammlmmon cases Includes a 222/460 461; 86/20 A, 23,24, 31, 32, ety of interchangeable adapter tubes, each adapted to 285/8a particular size of cartridge. The cooperative configurations of thefunnel and adapters prevent choking or 56] References Cited bridging ofthe powder and promote free flow directly UNITED STATES PATENTS the3,386,329 6/1968 Rohrbacher 86/31 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 12/1946Pape 285/8 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tofunnels, and more particularly to a funnel system for loading spentammunition cases or cartridges with fresh powder.

In refilling spent cartridges, the primer is replaced and the neck ofthe cartridge re-sized. It is then customary to place a funnel over theopen end of the cartridge and to pour a measured amount of powdertherethrough. The funnel usually has a universal fitting on the bottomthereof which slopes inwardly and upwardly to allow a cartridge to bepressed thereagainst, for a fairly good fit. In practice, however, theuniversal fitting works well with some cartridges but poorly withothers. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the smaller sizes, the neckof the universal fitting must be constricted. As a result, the flow ofthe powder therethrough is slow and the powder frequently becomesblocked or choked as it bridges across the opening. Furthermore, powderleakages or spills are common when the fit is less than ideal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a loading funnel system which is readily adaptable to a verywide range of cartridge sizes and shapes; a system which automaticallycompensates for manufacturing tolerances and wear and tear among thevarious parts thereof; a system promoting free flow of the powdertherethrough without bridging or choking; and to accomplish all of theabove in an uncomplicated, inexpensive, durable, and highly practicalsystem which is particularly well adapted for rapid filling of suchcartridges.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a common oruniversal funnel and a plurality of specific, interchangeable adaptedtubes, each 'of which may be attached to the funnel.

The adapter tubes, in turn, have filler heads on the bases thereof, eachof which is specifically shaped for a particular cartridge or vessel tobe filled. The customized filler heads therefore allow a nearly-perfectfit for each different size of cartridge.

A funnel tube is attached to the base of the funnel, and the sdaptertubes are inserted into the funnel tube. The outside of the adaptertubes and the inside of the funnel tube are each slightly tapered sothat they, wedge together. The tapers compensate for manufacturingtolerances as well as ordinary wear and tear during usage.

The base of the funnel, as it opens into the funnel tube, has a lip. Thelip extends slightly into the funnel tube and has an opening which issmaller than the interior of the funnel tube. The lip thus meters theflow of powder or other material through the system. The walls of thelip adjacent its opening are generally perpendicular, and are connectedwith the sloping walls of the funnel along smoothly curved innersurfaces.

The tapers of the funnel tube and the adapter tube are such that theywedge with the adapter tube some distance below the lip, leaving a spacewithin the funnel tube between the lip and the adapter tube. This spaceserves as an expansion space, providing room for the metered material toexpand just below the lip as it falls toward the adapter tube. The edgeof the adapter tube facing the lip is tapered to guide the fallingmaterial into the adapter tube and to prevent build-up thereon of thematerial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecommon loading funnel and funnel tube of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of the FIG. 1 device taken generally on line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the funnel tube of FIG. 1, looking in thegeneral direction of arrows 33 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter tube of this inventionhaving a filler head adapted to interconnect with a small sizedcartridge;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter tube similar to that ofFIG. 4, but adapted for a larger cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adapter tube and filler head of thisinvention similar to those of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the FIG. I funnel assembled withthe FIG. 6 adapter and mounted above a cartridge for loading powderthereinto; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a type of adapter tube useful for compaction loading.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I With reference to thedrawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated thefunnel 10 of this invention. Funnel 10 has a funnel tube 11 attached tothe base thereof, the inside of which is provided with a taper 12 whichtapers slightly inwardly toward the bottom of the funnel.

A plurality of adapter tubes 15 (FIGS. 4-6) have filler heads 16 on thebottoms thereof. The filler heads have sockets 17 which are eachspecifically shaped for receiving the open end of a particular vessel,such as a cartridge, which is to be filled. As may be seen by comparingFIGS. 4 and 5, for example, the filler head socket 17 in FIG. 4 isadapted for filling a smaller cartridge than that of FIG. 5, the fillerhead neck 18 in FIG. 4 being narrower than the corresponding filler headneck 19 in FIG. 5. Any appropriate shape for the filler head sockets 17may be selected, of course, to mate properly with the cartridge or othervessel being filled. The filler heads 16 may also be provided with thefinger grips 20, such as the square shanks illustrated in the drawings.

The adapter tubes are tapered along their exterior walls 21 to match thetaper 12 of the :funnel tube '1 l. The tapers are complementary, so thatthe funnel tube and adapter tube will wedge together in a tight fit.However, the tapers wedge before adapter tube 15 penetrates fully intofunnel tube 11, and thus cooperate to leave an expansion space 25 (FIG.7) within funnel tube 11 between the top of adapter tube 15 and the baseof funnel 10.

A lip 30 is attached to the base of funnel l0 and has an opening 31 intofunnel tube 11. Lip opening 31 is of a smaller diameter than the innerdiameter of funnel tube 11, and thus serves to meter the flow of thematerial from funnel 10 into funnel tube 11. Lip 30 has a generallysmoothly curved inner surface 32 which connects funnel 10 to lip opening31. The curved inner surface 32 provides a smooth transition from thesloping walls of funnel to the opening 31 in lip 30, the walls of whichat opening 31 are generally vertical.

A beveled edge 34 is provided on the end of each adapter tube facing lipopening 31. The edge slopes from the very outside of each tube 15 towardthe opening through the center thereof, and serves to prevent build-upthereon of material being loaded from funnel 10.

With reference to FIG. 7, there is illustrated the funnel l0 and funneltube 1 1 of FIG. 1 joined to an adapter tube 15 such as that illustratedin FIG. 6. These are mounted, in turn, upon a typical cartridge 36 forfilling with powder 37. Cartridge 36 is supported by a cartridge loadingsupport 38.

FIG. 8 illustrates a compaction tube 39, another form of adapter tube15. Compaction tube 39 allows the powder 37 to drop a greater distancebefore entering cartridge 36, the additional velocity of the powdercausing compaction thereof within the cartridge. FIG. 8 thus illustratesone of the many variations which may be made upon adapter tube 15 tomeet particular requirements.

As may be seen, therefore, this invention has numerous advantages. Onlyone funnel need be provided, although a very wide variety of sizes andshapes of cartridges or other vessels may easily be filled. The onlyadditional requirement is an appropriately shaped adapter tube 15 foreach particular cartridge. Furthermore, the powder usually achieves avery considerable velocity by the time it reaches the narrowest part ofthe system, which is generally at the filler head necks (18 and 19). Thevelocity of the powder at this point causes a concomitant decrease inthe stream density, since lip opening 31 meters the flow rate, and as aresult, the system is virtually jam free.

The configurations of lip and lip opening 31, in conjunction with curvedinner surface 32, contribute substantially to the jam free nature ofthis system. Only the very edge of lip opening 31 is substantiallyvertical, with surface 32 curving smoothly therefrom up to the innerwalls of funnel 10. As a result, there are no surfaces which may beeasily engaged for bridging of the material across opening 31. Instead,the material flows readily therethrough.

Results with this invention have also shown that expansion space 25 aidsthe flow characteristics thereof. It is believed that this takes placeby allowing the powder to spread out immediately, below lip 30, ratherthan to compact and bridge across the lip opening 31.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A loading funnel system for fine grained material such as gunpowder,comprising:

a. a funnel,

b. a funnel tube on the base of said funnel,

c. a lip at the base of said funnel, said lip opening and extending intosaid funnel tube and having an opening of less diameter than theinterior diameter of said funnel tube to meter the flow of materialtherethrough, and

d. at least one adapter tube fitted for insertion into said funnel tube,said adapter tube having a filler head thereon adapted to interconnectwith a vessel to be filled.

2. The funnel system of claim 1 wherein the edge of said lip opens in asubstantially vertical fashion into said funnel tube, and wherein saidfunnel is connected to said lip opening by a smoothly curved innersurface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the end of said adapter tube oppositesaid filler head is beveled to prevent build-up thereon of materialbeing loaded therethrough.

4. The funnel system of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a taper on the inside surface of said funnel tube,

and

b. a taper on the outside of said adapter tube generally matching saidfunnel tube taper wherein said tapers limit the penetration of saidadapter tube into said funnel tube to provide an expansion spacetherebetween within said funnel tube.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the end of said adapter tube oppositesaid filler head is beveled to prevent build-up thereon of materialbeing loaded therethrough.

6. The system of claim 5 including a plurality of said adapter tubes,each having a different filler head thereon.

7. A loading funnel system for fine grained material such as gunpowder,comprising:

a. a funnel,

b. a funnel tube on the base of said funnel,

c. a taper on the inside surface on said funnel tube,

f. a taper on the outside of said adapter tube generally matching saidfunnel tube taper for a close fit therebetween to limit the penetrationof said adapter tube into said funnel tube to provide an expansion spacetherebetween within said funnel tube, and

g. a beveled edge on the end of said adapter tube opposite said fillerhead to prevent build-up thereon of material being loaded therethrough.

1. A loading funnel system for fine grained material such as gunpowder,comprising: a. a funnel, b. a funnel tube on the base of said funnel, c.a lip at the base of said funnel, said lip opening and extending intosaid funnel tube and having an opening of less diameter than theinterior diameter of said funnel tube to meter the flow of materialtherethrough, and d. at least one adapter tube fitted for insertion intosaid funnel tube, said adapter tube having a filler head thereon adaptedto interconnect with a vessel to be filled.
 2. The funnel system ofclaim 1 wherein the edge of said lip opens in a substantially verticalfashion into said funnel tube, and wherein said funnel is connected tosaid lip opening by a smoothly curved inner surface.
 3. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the end of said adapter tube opposite said filler headis beveled to prevent build-up thereon of material being loadedtherethrough.
 4. The funnel system of claim 1 further comprising: a. ataper on the inside surface of said funnel tube, and b. a taper on theoutside of said adapter tube generally matching said funnel tube taperwherein said tapers limit the penetration of said adapter tube into saidfunnel tube to provide an expansion space therebetween within saidfunnel tube.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the end of said adaptertube opposite said filler head is beveled to prevent build-up thereon ofmaterial being loaded therethrough.
 6. The system of claim 5 including aplurality of said adapter tubes, each having a different filler headthereon.
 7. A loading funnel system for fine grained material such asgunpowder, comprising: a. a funnel, b. a funnel tube on the base of saidfunnel, c. a taper on the inside surface on said funnel tube, d. a lipat the base of said funnel, said lip opening and extending in asubstantially vertical fashion into said funnel tube and being connectedto said funnel by a smoothly curved inner surface, the diameter of thelip opening being of less diameter than the interior diameter of saidfunnel tube to meter the flow of material therethrough. e. at least oneadapter tube insertable into said funnel tube, said adapter tube havinga filler head thereon adapted to interconnect with a vessel to befilled, f. a taper on the outside of said adapter tube generallymatching said funnel tube taper for a close fit therebetween to limitthe penetration of said adapter tube into said funnel tube to provide anexpansion space therebetween within said funnel tube, and g. a bevelededge on the end of said adapter tube opposite said filler head toprevent build-up thereon of material being loaded therethrough.